1 Macc 6 | EngLXX | STEP | About that time king Antiochus travelling through the high countries heard say, that Elymaisin the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold;

‏ 1 Maccabees 6

1 About that time king Antiochus travelling through the high countries heard say, that Elymaisin the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches, silver, and gold; 2 And that there was in it a very rich temple, wherein were coverings of gold, and breastplates,and shields, which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Grecians,had left there. 3 Wherefore he came and sought to take the city, and to spoil it; but he was not able, becausethey of the city, having had warning thereof, 4 Rose up against him in battle: so he fled, and departed thence with great heaviness, andreturned to Babylon. 5 Moreover there came one who brought him tidings into Persia, that the armies, which wentagainst the land of Judea, were put to flight: 6 And that Lysias, who went forth first with a great power was driven away of the Jews;and that they were made strong by the armor, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten ofthe armies, whom they had destroyed: 7 Also that they had pulled down the abomination, which he had set up upon the altar inJerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and his city Bethsura. 8 Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved: whereupon he laidhim down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not befallen him as he looked for. 9 And there he continued many days: for his grief was ever more and more, and he made accountthat he should die. 10 Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said to them, The sleep is gone from mineeyes, and my heart fails for very care. 11 And I thought with myself, Into what tribulation am I come, and how great a flood ofmisery is it, wherein now I am! for I was bountiful and beloved in my power. 12 But now I remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the vesselsof gold and silver that were therein, and sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judea without a cause. 13 I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and, behold,I perish through great grief in a strange land. 14 Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his realm, 15 And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end he should bring up hisson Antiochus, and nourish him up for the kingdom. 16 So king Antiochus died there in the hundred forty and ninth year. 17 Now when Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son, whom he hadbrought up being young, to reign in his stead, and his name he called Eupator. 18 About this time they that were in the tower shut up the Israelites round about the sanctuary,and sought always their hurt, and the strengthening of the heathen. 19 Wherefore Judas, purposing to destroy them, called all the people together to besiegethem. 20 So they came together, and besieged them in the hundred and fifties year, and he mademounts for shot against them, and other engines. 21 Howbeit certain of them that were besieged got forth, to whom some ungodly men of Israeljoined themselves: 22 And they went to the king, and said, How long will it be ere you execute judgment, andavenge our brethren? 23 We have been willing to serve your father, and to do as he would have us, and to obeyhis commandments; 24 For which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and are alienated from us: moreoveras many of us as they could light on they killed, and spoiled our inheritance. 25 Neither have they stretched out their hand against us only, but also against their borders. 26 And, behold, this day are they besieging the tower at Jerusalem, to take it: the sanctuaryalso and Bethsura have they fortified. 27 Wherefore if you do not prevent them quickly, they will do the greater things than these,neither shall you be able to rule them. 28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his friends, andthe captains of his army, and those that had charge of the horse. 29 There came also to him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands of hiredsoldiers. 30 So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen,and two and thirty elephants exercised in battle. 31 These went through Idumea, and pitched against Bethsura, which they assaulted many days,making engines of war; but they of Bethsura came out, and burned them with fire, and fought valiantly. 32 Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in Bathzacharias, over against theking's camp. 33 Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his host toward Bathzacharias,where his armies made them ready to battle, and sounded the trumpets. 34 And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they showed them the bloodof grapes and mulberries. 35 Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies, and for every elephant they appointeda thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads; and beside this, forevery beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best. 36 These were ready at every occasion: wherever the beast was, and wherever the beast went,they went also, neither departed they from him. 37 And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them,and were girded fast to them with devices: there were also upon every one two and thirty strong men, thatfought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him. 38 As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side at the twoparts of the host giving them signs what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks. 39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains glistered therewith,and shined like lamps of fire. 40 So part of the king's army being spread upon the high mountains, and part on the valleysbelow, they marched on safely and in order. 41 Wherefore all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company,and the rattling of the harness, were moved: for the army was very great and mighty. 42 Then Judas and his host drew near, and entered into battle, and there were slain of theking's army six hundred men. 43 Eleazar also, surnamed Savaran, perceiving that one of the beasts, armed with royal harness,was higher than all the rest, and supposing that the king was upon him, 44 Put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him a perpetualname: 45 Wherefore he ran upon him courageously through the midst of the battle, slaying on theright hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him on both sides. 46 Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and killed him: whereuponthe elephant fell down upon him, and there he died. 47 Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and the violence of hisforces, turned away from them. 48 Then the king's army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king pitched his tentsagainst Judea, and against mount Sion. 49 But with them that were in Bethsura he made peace: for they came out of the city, becausethey had no food there to endure the siege, it being a year of rest to the land. 50 So the king took Bethsura, and set a garrison there to keep it. 51 As for the sanctuary, he besieged it many days: and set there artillery with enginesand instruments to cast fire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and slings. 52 Whereupon they also made engines against their engines, and held them battle a long season. 53 Yet at the last, their vessels being without food, (for that it was the seventh year,and they in Judea that were delivered from the Gentiles, had eaten up the residue of the store;) 54 There were but a few left in the sanctuary, because the famine did so prevail againstthem, that they were fain to disperse themselves, every man to his own place. 55 At that time Lysias heard say, that Philip, whom Antiochus the king, whiles he lived,had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, that he might be king, 56 Was returned out of Persia and Media, and the king's host also that went with him, andthat he sought to take to him the ruling of the affairs. 57 Wherefore he went in all haste, and said to the king and the captains of the host andthe company, We decay daily, and our food are but small, and the place we lay siege to is strong, andthe affairs of the kingdom lie upon us: 58 Now therefore let us be friends with these men, and make peace with them, and with alltheir nation; 59 And covenant with them, that they shall live after their laws, as they did before: forthey are therefore displeased, and have done all these things, because we abolished their laws. 60 So the king and the princes were content: wherefore he sent to them to make peace; andthey accepted thereof. 61 Also the king and the princes made an oath to them: whereupon they went out of the stronghold. 62 Then the king entered into mount Sion; but when he saw the strength of the place, hebroke his oath that he had made, and gave commandment to pull down the wall round about. 63 Afterward departed he in all haste, and returned to Antiochia, where he found Philipto be master of the city: so he fought against him, and took the city by force.